i have three geldings and its been getting really hot, we hosed them off twice today and they seemed to love it! anything else we can do to keep them cool? they always have food and fresh water.
anything else i can do for them?

If you are going to hose them, I'd definitely use a sweat scraper. That excess water can leave them feeling muggy.

I actually don't even worry about my horses until it hits very high 90's or 100's. Before the temps get that hot, I just make sure they have a nice shady shelter and unlimited water. When it does go to 100, I bring mine in the barn for the worst part of the heat. Other than that, I don't think there is anything you can do besides make sure they have shelter, water, something to eat and a salt block. To me, it boils down to making sure you put back what they are sweating out.

Here in southern AZ, we are lucky to get any summer days BELOW 105°! I ride in the early morning, (no later than 7:30-8 am) but even then it is about 95-97° by the time we are done...a nice tepid hose off after our cool-down walk helps, and the horse I ride now, Giselle, stays in her stall during the middle & hottest part of the day, with evening turn-out about 7pm, when it is around 95° anyway, but not 110°!...she seems pretty unfazed by it, actually... this is likely due to her having been born and raised here/living in this heat all her life...

She drinks lots of cool, clean H20, and has an electric fan in her stall (waaay up high, at an angle, to provide constant air circulation), as all the indoor barn horses have. She doesn't seem to be the least bit uncomfortable, and is definitely "raring to go" with each ride! :0) Each of my trainer's horses and boarders receive a bucket daily with various supplements and electrolytes contained within, as well.

Lemon lime gatorade is what is in my horses water buckets, filled with a huge block of ice. He has two fans on him and a big salt block. He is turned out at night for the less heat.Posted via Mobile Device

My kids are fairly acclimated to the weather as they are outside all day. I make sure they have plenty of water and shade. I'm fortunate to have some large trees for them to stand under which is a lot cooler than the metal free standing shades.

So in lies the madness, the pursuit of the impossible in the face of the complete assurance that you will fail, and yet still you chase.

Leon, certainly NO rudeness/assumption implied...just double checking what is likely already obvious to everyone else (I can be a bit literall!) but you ALSO have plain water in his bucket, right? One has to be super careful with electrolytes as the ones formulated for humans (such as gatorade, etc...) are not always correct for horses...and, it can be easy to "overdo" electrolytes.

Just being nosy...and anal retentive...I'm sure you also give plain water! Just beware of TOO MANY electrolytes!

Hosing a horse just standing around does NOT cool it off. It actually works in reverse. After you have hosed and 'cooled', the body as to work to get back up to a temperature to regulate it with the outside temperature.

Hosing a horse that has been worked will bring it back to the correct temperature.

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